30 Days of Witchcraft ~ 30-Day Challenge ~ Day 13 Moon Work

I really didn't plan this but today is day 13 of our 30 Days of Witchcraft "Write Your Craft" Challenge. The reason I say that is because, astrologically, there are 13 Moons in a year; full moons that is. A moon cycle is a little shorter than our calendar month, which is why we get the "once in a Blue Moon" second full moon in a month.

Moon work is a paramount skill in most witchcraft traditions. Today, I will talk about the basics.

There are 8 phases to every moon cycle. We'll hit the big 4 (new, waxing, full, waning). All 8 in order they are:

1. 

   Artist: John Crane Dower Artist Bio: British, active 1820 - 1847

   Creation Date: 1846 Process: engraving Credit Line: Museum purchase Accession Number: 2008.036.001 

   222295712 © Photographic Arts Museum | Dreamstime.com

   New Moon
2. Waxing Crescent
   
3. First Quarter
4. Waxing Gibbous
5. Full Moon
6. Waning Gibbous
7. Third Quarter
8. Waning Crescent

Each of them have their own special correspondences. First, this is an engraving from 1846 that I personally think is amazing. Click to make it larger, if you'd like.

 The new moon is the phase where we see no light reflected to the moon. In some traditions, while the moon is resting, we rest, and do no magical work for the approximate 3 days that we do not see the moon. If we do, it is a good time for:

 • Cleansing and purification spells
 • Dedicating sacred space
 • Any magic related to inner harmony and peace

The waxing moon is when the moon has started growing from dark to full and we see that "Cheshire Cat grin" for the first time in the cycle. This is a time to perform "positive magic" such as:

 • Money Blessing spells (general or increased pay, etc)
 • Spells for a new job or home
 • Bringing more or new love into one's life (non-specific to a person)
 • Any magic related to "increasing" and material gain

The full moon is the point in which we see the entirety of the moon. For magical work, many traditions include the night before and night after, three full days. This is the best time to do fulfilment and personal growth spells, such as:

 • Increasing your intuition and liminal awareness
 • Healing magic
 • Rituals that connect you closely with your deity, such as Drawing Down the Moon
 • Any magic related to developing your magical skills

The waning moon is the opposite "Cheshire Cat grin", when the moon is starting to thin after being full - on it's way to becoming the new moon again. It is a time for starting over fresh before the next new moon. Use this time for baneful and releasing magic, such as:

 • eliminating toxicity in your life

 • smooth endings
 • banishing bad habits
 • Any magic for "reducing" (debt, illness, etc)